Mes Amis (2017, rev. 2021)
Instrumentation: oboe solo
Duration: 8 minutes
While studying at the Jacobs School of Music, I was fortunate to be friends with two wonderful oboists, JJ Silvey and Alaina Chester. Through Mes Amis I wanted to capture their bright, fun personalities and their aptitude for silly and sassy banter. All of this is portrayed through three recurring musical themes. First, a saucy and indulgent burlesque that meanders about with occasional surprises and bursts of fast notes. More frenzied is the second theme, darting around the oboe's full range with a flurry of scalar passages and curt chirping, laughing gestures. The last theme is the gentlest, a sweet and lyrical waltz with a Parisian-like lilt. It was natural for French musical influences to color this composition because JJ, Alaina, and I all carry a special fondness for French composers, especially Francis Poulenc! Mes Amis was composed in the spring of 2017 for my friends and revised in 2021 for publication.